USO Northwest Florida, USCG Cutter Diligence Host Trunk-or-Treat Onboard NAS Pensacola for Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Non-Mission Essential Personnel

Photo By Bruce Cummins | PENSACOLA, Fla. — Naval Station Guantanamo Bay non-mission essential personnel and Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola service members and their families take part in the United Services Organization (USO)-sponsored Trunk-or-Treat event Oct. 30 at the air station’s Allegheny Pier. Originally, scheduled as a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Diligence (WMEC-616) event, organizers ensured the nearly 900 Naval Station Guantanamo Bay non-mission essential personnel had the opportunity to participate.  

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES

10.30.2025

Courtesy Story

Naval Air Station Pensacola

PENSACOLA, Fla. – More than 350 service members, family members and Naval Station Guantanamo Bay non-mission essential personnel took part in a United Services Organization (USO) Northwest Florida-sponsored Trunk-or-Treat event Oct. 30 at the air station’s Allegheny Pier.
The USO-organized event, originally scheduled as a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Diligence (WMEC-616) outing, was shifted to encompass additional attendees, specifically Naval Station Guantanamo Bay non-mission essential personnel currently onboard the air station.
“Our USO and Coast Guard presence here put together a fantastic event for Naval Station Guantanamo Bay non-mission essential personnel temporarily displaced by Hurricane Melissa,” said Capt. Chandra ‘Mamasan’ Newman. ‘The outpouring of community support for these members of our Navy family has been truly spectacular, and giving some of these children the opportunity to still enjoy a favorite holiday speaks volumes of their commitment to our service members’ families.”
In the shadow of the pierside Diligence and buoy tender USCG Cutter Walnut (WLB-205) event participants had more than 40 stops at which to receive candy and treats, as well as participate in games, face painting and other activities.
“Our Trunk-Or-Treat started small, bringing together the families and crews of Walnut and Diligence, but our crew and the larger Coast Guard family jumped at the opportunity to support the Guantanamo Bay non-mission essential personnel and invite them to our event,” said Diligence Commanding Officer Cmdr. Colin McKee. “We expected 50 attendees and ended up with 350, and it ended up being a wonderful evening for our larger military family.
According to USO Northwest Florida Center Operations Specialist Mary Ellen Schaffner, the community support and flexibility provided a festive atmosphere for the estimated 350 attendees, mainly children, many of whom were in costume.
“Being able to put together an event on short notice to take care of our military family is keeping in line with the USO mission – to strengthen America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country throughout their service,” she said. “The volunteer efforts of so many community partners made this a truly special event.”
The four-hour USO Northwest Florida-organized event included service members from numerous NAS Pensacola-based commands and community organizations such as the Pensacola-Area Chief Petty Officers Association (PACPOA); the United Cajun Navy; the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce; PenAir Federal Credit Union; Lowes; Pepboys; Pensacola State College’s WSRE public broadcasting; St. John the Evangelist Private Catholic School; Diligence; and Walnut; and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Reliance (WMEC-615).
Nearly 900 non-mission essential personnel from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay arrived at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Oct. 25 and 26 as part of a Naval Station Guantanamo Bay non-mission essential personnel movement ahead of one of the strongest hurricanes of the 2025 storm season.

• Date Taken: 10.30.2025
• Date Posted: 10.31.2025 10:19
• Story ID: 550574
• Location: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, US